Water withdrawals per capita in France
France: Water withdrawals per capita was 353.59 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
353.59 cubic meters per person
Change on year
down 4.1%
World rank
74th
of 180 countries
All-time high
681.45 cubic meters per person
in 1992
All-time low
353.59 cubic meters per person
in 2023
Years of data
44
1980–2023
Water withdrawals per capita in France, 1980–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters per person.
Analysis
In 2023, water withdrawals per capita in France stood at 353.59 cubic meters per person. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in France peaked at 681.45 cubic meters per person in 1992 and was at its lowest, 353.59 cubic meters per person, in 2023.
That places France 74th out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in France, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 574.14 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1981 | 585.27 cubic meters per person | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 596.13 cubic meters per person | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 607.08 cubic meters per person | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 618.12 cubic meters per person | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 629.02 cubic meters per person | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 635.84 cubic meters per person | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 642.48 cubic meters per person | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 648.84 cubic meters per person | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 655.02 cubic meters per person | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 661.34 cubic meters per person | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 674.82 cubic meters per person | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 681.45 cubic meters per person | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 647.82 cubic meters per person | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 614.98 cubic meters per person | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 582.42 cubic meters per person | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 550.12 cubic meters per person | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 518.02 cubic meters per person | -5.8% |
| 1998 | 529.63 cubic meters per person | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 540.29 cubic meters per person | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 549.97 cubic meters per person | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 546.3 cubic meters per person | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 536.52 cubic meters per person | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 559.08 cubic meters per person | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 555.07 cubic meters per person | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 549.63 cubic meters per person | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 533.14 cubic meters per person | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 503.04 cubic meters per person | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 463.06 cubic meters per person | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 451.33 cubic meters per person | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 450.63 cubic meters per person | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 473 cubic meters per person | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 438.08 cubic meters per person | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 421.77 cubic meters per person | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 421.95 cubic meters per person | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 433.11 cubic meters per person | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 406.21 cubic meters per person | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 412.75 cubic meters per person | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 410.91 cubic meters per person | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 398.79 cubic meters per person | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 374.35 cubic meters per person | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 376.08 cubic meters per person | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 368.69 cubic meters per person | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 353.59 cubic meters per person | -4.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 353.59 cubic meters per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 376.78 cubic meters per person, 94% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- France's 353.59 cubic meters per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 419.39 cubic meters per person, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 619.2 cubic meters per person | 574.14 cubic meters per person | 655.02 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 600.09 cubic meters per person | 518.02 cubic meters per person | 681.45 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 524.71 cubic meters per person | 451.33 cubic meters per person | 559.08 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 426.72 cubic meters per person | 398.79 cubic meters per person | 473 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 368.18 cubic meters per person | 353.59 cubic meters per person | 376.08 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
- 71 Netherlands 407.21 cubic meters per person compare
- 72 Oman 379.26 cubic meters per person compare
- 73 Ireland 376.78 cubic meters per person compare
- 75 Paraguay 352.56 cubic meters per person compare
- 76 Austria 343.9 cubic meters per person compare
- 77 Georgia 339.69 cubic meters per person compare
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.1777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water withdrawals per capita in France?
- Water withdrawals per capita in France was 353.59 cubic meters per person in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water withdrawals per capita recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 681.45 cubic meters per person in 1992.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 353.59 cubic meters per person in 2023.
- How does France rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- France ranks 74th out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Water withdrawals per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, divided by the population.